Current interrupt device having connection parts with contacting inclined surfaces and battery module including the same

Abstract

A current interrupt device, which may be included in a battery module, includes first and second connection parts each having one surface on which an inclined surface is formed; wherein the inclined surface of the first connection part and the inclined surface of the second connection part contact each other to form a contact interface, the first connection part and the second connection part are electrically connected to each other, and when an external force equal to or greater than a predetermined force is applied to the inclined surface of the first connection part or the inclined surface of the second connection part, the inclined surface of the first connection part and the inclined surface of the second connection part are dislocated with respect to each other on the contact interface to interrupt electrical connection between the first connection part and the second connection part.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A current interrupt device comprising:
 a first connection part having one surface on which an inclined surface is formed; 
 a second connection part having one surface on which an inclined surface having a shape corresponding to the inclined surface of the first connection part is formed; 
 a first fixing part disposed on an outer portion of the first connection part so that the first connection part is configured to be coupled to a portion of a circumferential portion of a first secondary battery; and 
 a second fixing part disposed on an outer portion of the second connection part so that the second connection part is configured to be coupled to a portion of a circumferential portion of a second secondary battery, 
 wherein the inclined surface of the first connection part and the inclined surface of the second connection part contact each other to form a contact interface, 
 the first connection part and the second connection part are electrically connected to each other, 
 the inclined surface of the first connection part and the inclined surface of the second connection part are configured to be dislocated with respect to each other at the contact interface to interrupt electrical connection between the first connection part and the second connection part, 
 the first fixing part forms a corner with and extends substantially perpendicular to a remainder of the first connection part, and 
 the second fixing part forms a corner with and extends substantially perpendicular to a remainder of the second connection part. 
 
     
     
       2. The current interrupt device of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesion part disposed on the contact interface so that the inclined surface of the first connection part and the inclined surface of the second connection part adhere to each other. 
     
     
       3. The current interrupt device of  claim 1 , wherein the first secondary battery applies an external force from the first connection part toward the inclined surface of the first connection part when the first secondary battery is swollen,
 the second secondary battery applies an external force from the second connection part toward the inclined surface of the second connection part when the second secondary battery is swollen. 
 
     
     
       4. The current interrupt device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adhesion material disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the first fixing part configured to be coupled to the portion of the circumferential portion of the first secondary battery, and 
 an adhesion material disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the second fixing part configured to be coupled to the portion of the circumferential portion of the second secondary battery. 
 
     
     
       5. A current interrupt device comprising:
 a first connection part having one surface on which an inclined surface is formed; 
 a second connection part having one surface on which an inclined surface having a shape corresponding to the inclined surface of the first connection part is formed; 
 a first fixing part disposed on an outer portion of the first connection part so that the first connection part is configured to be in contact with a portion of a circumferential portion of a first secondary battery; and 
 a second fixing part disposed on an outer portion of the second connection part so that the second connection part is configured to be in contact with a portion of a circumferential portion of a second secondary battery, 
 wherein the inclined surface of the first connection part and the inclined surface of the second connection part contact each other to form a contact interface, 
 the first connection part and the second connection part are electrically connected to each other, 
 the inclined surface of the first connection part and the inclined surface of the second connection part are configured to be dislocated with respect to each other at the contact interface to interrupt electrical connection between the first connection part and the second connection part, and 
 a surface of the first fixing part configured to be in contact with the portion of the circumferential portion of the first secondary battery faces away from a surface of the second fixing part configured to be in contact with the portion of the circumferential portion of the second secondary battery. 
 
     
     
       6. The current interrupt device of  claim 5 , further comprising an adhesion part disposed on the contact interface so that the inclined surface of the first connection part and the inclined surface of the second connection part adhere to each other. 
     
     
       7. The current interrupt device of  claim 5 , wherein the first secondary battery applies an external force from the first connection part toward the inclined surface of the first connection part when the first secondary battery is swollen,
 the second secondary battery applies an external force from the second connection part toward the inclined surface of the second connection part when the second secondary battery is swollen. 
 
     
     
       8. The current interrupt device of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an adhesion material disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the first fixing part in contact with the portion of the circumferential portion of the first secondary battery, and 
 an adhesion material disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the second fixing part in contact with the portion of the circumferential portion of the second secondary battery. 
 
     
     
       9. A battery module comprising:
 a first battery; 
 a second battery spaced apart from the first battery; and 
 a current interrupt device disposed between the first battery and the second battery, the current interrupt device comprising:
 a first connection part having one surface on which an inclined surface is formed; 
 a second connection part having one surface on which an inclined surface having a shape corresponding to the inclined surface of the first connection part is formed; 
 a first fixing part disposed on an outer portion of the first connection part and in contact with a portion of a circumferential portion of the first battery; and 
 a second fixing part disposed on an outer portion of the second connection part and in contact with a portion of a circumferential portion of the second battery, 
 wherein the inclined surface of the first connection part and the inclined surface of the second connection part contact each other to form a contact interface, 
 the first connection part and the second connection part are electrically connected to each other, and 
 the inclined surface of the first connection part and the inclined surface of the second connection part are configured to be dislocated with respect to each other at the contact interface to interrupt electrical connection between the first connection part and the second connection part, 
 
 wherein a surface of the first fixing part in contact with the portion of the circumferential portion of the first battery faces away from a surface of the second fixing part in contact with the portion of the circumferential portion of the second battery.